Did you know Father Christmas originally wore a green suit?
Find out a little bit of history of Father Christmas and the truth behind the colour of Father Christmas's iconic outfit!
Whenever we think about Father Christmas we picture a jolly, old man with a long white beard and red and white suit and matching bobble hat, who works tirelessly all year to give away gifts to ‘good’ children on Christmas Eve and has become one of the most popular legendary figures around the world to date. But why is it that Santa is always seen in a red suit? Was his suit always this bright colour?
In America in the 1880s, Santa was depicted in a green or tan suit, but in 1866 an American caricaturist, Thomas Nast created a cartoon about Santa Claus and Christmas for Harpers Magazine in a red suit with fur lining, a nightcap, and a black belt with a large buckle, which became more popular that the green suit.
Coca Cola was often mistakenly blamed for changing Santa to Red, but the work of Haddon Sundblom in 1931 who drew the pictures of Santa for them just changed the pipe to a glass of Coca-Cola.
In Britain, Father Christmas was always depicted in a green suit, and as the Christmas gift bringer and wasn’t known as Santa Claus as this was an American myth until the 1850’s but are both now synonymous.
So now you know a little of the history, do you think we should stick with American red theme for Father Christmas or should we GO GREEN?
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year from all the Team at Oakwood Homes!